Housing association saying I’m unreasonable I don’t think I am !!!

Although your neighbour wouldn't be able to do the school run could they sit in your house while you do it?

Do you know the elderly neighbour (or anyone) well enough to ask if they could sit at yours while you do the school run?

I would also add that you can’t take your children to school Breakfast Club earlier as your DC has special needs and needs 1:1 support which is currently unavailable at the club. They probably won't want to be seen to be being unreasonable when there’s a SN child in the equation.

This is the same thing someone who rents privately has to deal with, it's the same thing someone who owns have to deal with if they want work done. Slots are set like this because it helps them manage their day. The customer is expected to bend to accomodate the service provider, not the other way around.

Unfortunately we all have to make arrangements from time to time. I rent privately and work so I always request the first appointment of the day if something needs doing. The landlord has a key as do the letting agent so, same as you if I were to miss two appointments they would take further action, in this case be here in the house to let the person in. It's never happened tho because we work it out. I generally ask for and get a Saturday appointment or in the evening after 6pm at a push. We needed a new shower recently and they came at 7.30 am to assess and returned on the Saturday to fit it.

Why are you refusing to answer what the repair is for?

Id ignore the comments about free housing: free repairs etc… pointless, unnecessary and frankly pathetic.

My friends in a council house and has to stay in the duration of any work being done so this wouldnt work unless its a short job. Can't even pop out to the shop. Guessing it's so the contractors can't be accused of theft.

Can your mum not assist at all with this issue then? Either by being in your house when they call round or doing the school run for you?

Landlords are always responsible for repairs - it’s totally normal. I don’t know why people are making an issue of that.

I live in a housing association property and also have to do school runs. My childs school is 10 minutes up the road though so I just leave a note on my front door saying on the school run, back in 10 or something and might come back to a workman waiting at the door. But it is literally 20 minutes for me to get to school and back.

I have also left workmen in my property before to go and pick my child up from school which I wasn't 100% comfortable with but had to be done.

Yes I was going to suggest that - get someone to wait in your house if you genuinely can’t get anyone else to do the school run.

But seriously if you want the repairs done then you have to suck up the school attendance thing and stop saying you can’t do it. Loads of kids miss school regularly. Unless someone’s literally off all the time with unauthorised absences, there’s no real consequences - what is the school realistically going to do? Prioritise getting your house sorted out.

The repairs are paid for by the housing association, so yes they are “free” in the sense that OP is not having to lay out £500 on top of her rent to fix a broken shower etc. Rent is separate and significantly cheaper than market rate.

I don’t think anyone should “accept less” where on earth have you got that from? I made the point we have to work our schedules around tradesmen we pay for as well.

Yes I think people should be grateful to be in receipt of subsidised housing funded in part by the tax payer, is that really a controversial opinion?

I had this years ago with HA for a gas boiler check and I didn't let it lie, in the end they gave me an evening appointment.
They are being unreasonable. Don't give in with them

This is a really good letter. Well done Winter.

Sorry you're having such difficulty OP and sorry you're being sneered at by some clueless Mumsnetters. Xx Hope it gets sorted.

Arrange childcare with who though? It doesn’t sound like the OP gas much of a support network.

Mines the same - it can be a nuisance & waste lots of annual leave waiting in for them. I think it's just something you have to work with in HA & council housing.

You need to weigh up the cost of a few days of unpaid leave or a few hours of extra child care with what you would pay if you moved to private rented. A private landlord would likely be more flexible (but not necessarily)

You mention an elderly neighbour.

Would they come and sit in your home for a short time while you take your DC to school?

Our HA offers school run appointments so between 09:15 and 14:45.

As long as you don’t have other unauthorised absences, it won’t matter. One unauthorised half-day is not going to be a big deal.

I don’t think they can guarantee turning up at a particular time. They have a list of jobs to do in various places and work their way through them and they get there when they get there.

I understand this is very difficult if you have no-one to ask to take the kids to school. Maybe speak to the school and explain you will be in late. If they make a fuss ask them what they suggest you do? 🤷‍♀️

What’s the repair for?

Tbh it’s a pretty standard appointment times and is part of your tenancy agreement.

If for any compliance repairs then your failure to allow access will lead to court action.

However I would call them up and ask to speak to a manager and explain your circumstances, however if your appointment is for an electrical EIRC they take 4 hrs to complete so they will need access in the stipulated times.